Getting a Taste for The Bard Q&A with Ben Crystal and Dr Varsha Panjwani
By Amie Johnson
We sat down with Ben Crystal and Dr Varsha Panjwani to discuss their upcoming event at Rugby's Literary Festival. In our Q&A, they reveal why Shakespeare doesn't need to be "made relevant," debunk assumptions about women in his theatre. Plus myth-busting, unapologetic geekery, and a therapy dog named Edie.
A huge welcome to Ben Crystal and Dr Panjwani from Rugby’s Macready Theatre. To steal the opening question from Dr Panjwani’s iconic Women and Shakespeare podcast, can I first ask you both to tell me in brief when your first encounter with Shakespeare was and what was the nature of that encounter?
BC: I studied Shakespeare in school, and absolutely hated it.
VP: I saw Bollywood versions of Shakespeare’s plays and loved it!
Our audiences can look forward to more detail from both of you about your first taste of The Bard, but what else can they expect from this event?
BC: Fun. Fascination. Silliness. Heartbreak. Tragedy. And the fevered excitement of two geeks nerding out.
VP: That just about covers it! If it is not your first taste of the Bard, you might look forward to unapologetic geekery. If it is your first taste of the Bard, it will be delicious to the senses as you hear and feel Shakespeare differently.
What’s one Shakespeare myth or cliché you’re looking forward to challenging as part of your discussion?
BC: That Shakespeare needs to be made relevant somehow.
VP: That there were no women involved in Shakespeare’s theatre.
It sounds like it’s going to be a fascinating evening as part of Rugby’s Literary Festival. Can you tell me who you think this evening is really aimed at?
BC: Everyone. Grandparents bring your grandkids. Grandkids, bring your friends.
VP: Friends, Romans, countrymen, younger couples rebelling against parents, older couples with relationship drama, queer communities, shrews, party-people, innkeepers, aristocrats - Shakespeare wrote about all so any conversation about his plays is relevant to all.
Why should someone who’s not a Shakespeare fan come to this event? Or if someone’s on the fence about attending, what would you say to persuade them to join us?
BC: Having started life not being a Shakespeare fan, I understand, very much. Come anyway, you’ll have a great time. Varsha’s awesome. Plus I’ll have my therapy dog Edie with me. You never know, we might change your mind.
VP: Ben’s actually great at changing your mind! And Edie has been to so many Shakespeare events that he deserves an honorary degree. Besides these attractions though, I think that you actually don’t have to be a Shakespeare superfan to make Shakespeare work for you. We can offer some ways to do just that.
Thank you both so much for your time. One final fun question for you; Is there a quote or scene from Shakespeare that perfectly captures what this event is all about?
VP: I am picking scenes from one of my favorite plays – A Midsummer Night’s Dream – where characters tumble into the enchanted woods and come out the other side somewhat changed. It is messy and they’re questioning everything but it is also fun and surprising – just like this event promises to be!
BC: Shakespeare wrote the line, Make not your thoughts your prisons. He also wrote Grief makes one hour ten. He also also wrote, Unbidden guests are often welcomest when they are gone. He had a tremendous way of noticing the way we humans think and feel, and capturing these thoughts and feelings like butterflies, pinning them to a page. We’ll be talking lots about that too…
Visit Ben Crystal website or follow him on X
Listen to Varsha Panjwani’s podcast Women in Shakespeare and follow her on Instagram
